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Airport News, "Arizona residents bothered by airplane noise"
Wednesday, January 5, 2000
AJ residents bothered by airplane noise
Federal officials say the noise doesn't exist
By Jim Walsh
The Arizona Republic
Apache Junction residents say part of the reason they settled more than 30
miles from the region's biggest airport was to get some peace and quiet, not
to be bothered by jet noise.
So for the second time in three years, they are pushing the City Council to
issue a resolution condemning the noise and calling on the Federal Aviation
Administration to gauge how loud it really is.
"We're concerned about the impact on individuals in the area," Vice Mayor
Anne Surra said. "We're looking at a quality of life issue."
Apache Junction area residents have complained about increased noise since
early last year, when the FAA began using the "Dry Heat" departure corridor
to relieve flight delays at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport. That
sent about 80 flights a day over the small East Valley city for the first
time.
FAA officials contend that the new departure corridor should not disturb
residents because planes average 10,500 feet when they fly over Apache
Junction and the Superstition Mountains.
They said flying 5,000 feet in altitude or more does not disturb anyone, a
position hotly disputed by residents.
"It's disturbing for me. We moved out here to the desert to get away from
noise," said Emily Myers-Rice, a Superstition Foothills resident.
Apache Junction's altitude is 2,029 feet, while a topographical map places
the Superstitions at 5,057 feet. Many complaints come from the Superstitions
Foothills, near the base of the mountains.
Donald Gabrielson and other area residents seek suspension of flights in the
Dry Heat corridor until noise levels can be studied and other alternatives
examined.
In addition, Gabrielson said FAA rules should be changed so that residents
are notified of flight path changes.
"They've taken the position that once aircraft reach 3,000 feet, they don't
make noise anymore," Gabrielson said. "That's utterly ridiculous."
Mitch Barker, an FAA spokesman in Seattle, said the agency plans continued
flights in the Dry Heat corridor.
"We're working with communities in the area and have no plans to suspend
it," he said. "We're open and listening and monitoring the number of noise
complaints in the area."
Assistant City Manager Bob Galloway said a resolution probably will be
approved in February. It may also cover Williams Gateway Airport, he said,
because some fear increased noise when passenger service begins later this
year. Williams officials say that won't be the case.
Surra acknowledged that an Apache Junction resolution alone won't have much
effect, but she said it may have some punch when combined with complaints
from other cities.
Ahwatukee residents have also complained about noise from Dry Heat, for
instance.
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